DC voters can take advantage of same-day registration, which allows them to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day.

How to check if you are registered

Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

Visit the District of Columbia's 2014 Election website or visit the District of Columbia’s Board of Elections’ Mobile App.

Registration Eligability

In order to register to vote in Washington, D.C., you must:

Be a United States Citizen;

Be a resident of the District of Columbia;

Be at least 16 years old*;

Not be in jail on a felony conviction;

Not have been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote; and

Not claim voting residence outside of the District of Columbia.

*Residents can preregister to vote at the age of 16 but won’t receive a voter registration card or be eligible to vote until they are at least 17 years old with an 18th birth day on or before the next general election.

Identification Required for Registration

Identification is not required for voters registering in person to vote in the District of Columbia, but voters who have not provided identification at the time of registration are required to do so at the polling place. If you are registering using during the early voting period or at the polls on Election Day you must bring acceptable proof of residence. This can include any of the following:

A copy of a current driver’s license or other government photo ID which shows your name and address, or

A copy of a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document which shows your name and address.

How to Register

Online

Registrations completed through the 2014 Election Mobile App can be signed and submitted through your mobile phone or tablet.

Registration can also be completed on any computer by visiting the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics Website here.

In-Person or by Mail

To register by mail, you can complete and mail a paper voter registration application. Applications must be postmarked at least 30 days before an election. Applications should be mailed to:

D.C. Board of Elections

One Judiciary Square

441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 250 North

Washington, DC 20001

You can also register to vote in person at the D.C. Board of Elections’ Office at the address listed above. There is no registration deadline when you register in-person at the Elections’ office. For more information on the office location: click here.

You can also register to vote at any voter registration agency. These include:

Department of Motor Vehicles;

Department of Corrections;

Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services;

Office of Aging;

Department of Parks and Recreation; and

Department of Human Services.

An application completed at any of these agencies must be filled out prior to 30 days before an election.

Same Day and Election Day Voter Registration

DC allows voters to register vote and cast a special ballot on the same day during the early vote period and on Election Day.

You will need to complete a voter registration application, swear or affirm that you are a qualified elector, and provide valid proof of residence at your early voting site or polling location.

You must also show valid proof of residence which can be:

A copy of a current driver’s license or other government photo ID which shows your name and address, or

A copy of a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document which shows your name and address.

Voters can vote early in person. Early Voting begins on October 20th at One Judiciary Square. All early voting locations across the District of Columbia will be open from October 25th until November 1st (except Sundays). Early Voting Center hours are from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM.

A registered voter may vote by absentee ballot, by mail or in person, for any reason.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot online or through the mobile app is October 28, 2014. The application must be received by the District of Columbia Board of Elections Office by October 28, 2014 in order to be processed.

If you are voting for the first time in DC and registered to vote by mail, without providing identification when registering, you must include a copy of your ID with your absentee ballot application. The following are acceptable forms of identification:

A copy of a current driver’s license or other government photo ID which shows your name and address, or

A copy of a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document which shows your name and address.

Absentee ballot applications must be received by the Tuesday before Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by the Election Day and received within 10 days of the Election Day.

In order to register by mail you must have either a Driver's license number or a DMV-issued ID number or a social security number. If you are registered to vote for the first time by mail you will additionally need to include a copy of one of the following:

A copy of a current driver’s license or other government photo ID which shows your name and address, or

A copy of a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document which shows your name and address.

Voters who have not provided identification at the time of registration are required to do so at the polling place. If you are registering using during the early voting period or at the polls on Election Day, you must bring acceptable proof of residence. This can include any of the following:

A copy of a current driver’s license or other government photo ID which shows your name and address, or

A copy of a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document which shows your name and address.

Identification requirements to cast a ballot

D.C. election law currently does not require voters to present identification when voting in person except for certain first-time voters who did not present ID when registering to vote. For requirements, see above.

For absentee voters: If you are voting for the first time in DC and registered to vote by mail, without providing identification when registering, you must include a copy of your ID with your absentee ballot application. The following are acceptable forms of identification:

A copy of a current driver’s license or other government photo ID which shows your name and address, or

A copy of a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document which shows your name and address.

Voters who have moved within DC must vote at the polling place of their new residence. If they were registered at their previous address, they may vote by special ballot at the polling place for their new residence, and establish identity and current residence at the time of voting.

Military and overseas citizens can use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) if they are concerned with receiving their printed ballot and returning it by the 7:00 p.m., Election Day deadline. The FWAB is a blank ballot on which voters write-in their choices. The FWAB may also be used to register to vote and to apply for the absentee ballot, all in one step. If the FWAB is being used to register to vote, it must be received by the voter registration deadline. For specific instructions, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program's Washington DC-specific FWAB page.

In DC, a voter who is released from incarceration for a felony has his or her right to vote automatically restored upon release from confinement, however, the individual must re-register to vote. Registration DOES NOT occur automatically upon release from confinement. Individuals who are confined for non-felony offenses may vote by absentee ballot.